Washing machine



Oct. 16, 192s.

A, w.`A| ToRFER wAsHING MACHINE l Filed June 4, 1925 Patented Oct. 16, 1928 UNITED STATES Aammette w. from or nom. rumors wasnme Application' med :une 4 This invention has reference tol washing machines, and it has for its principal object to improve the dolly or agitatingmeans, wherebyto produce a more effective and' iinroved washing action on the articles deposited in the tub or container. y

The invention has for a further object to provide in a washing machine, a dolly or agitator having somewhat the contour of a saucer and occupying a space substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the tub or container-and supported to be -oscillated next adjacent the bottom of the tub and provided with aperforated bottom and, upstanding fins orbaliles. The' latter serving to keep the articles to be washed inl constant agitation and the upturned peripherial portion of the dolly or agitator' 'serving to' direct the` articles upwardly` and inwardly as the centrifugal action ofthe fdolly or agitator moves the same outwardly. The resultis a more effective washing action and the upwardl `movement of the'articles at the peripherial' portion of the dolly or agitator prevents the articles getting under'the edge-of the dolly or agitator and becoming-damaged or torn.

That the invention may be more fully/'understood, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the present description and illustrating a' preferred embodiment of the'invention, in which Figur'e`1 is an elevation, in section, showing a washing'machine embodying my invention, and' Figure 2 isa partial plan view of my 11nl proved dolly or agitator.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The tub or-container 1 is preferably cylindrical in shape, not unlike those in genera-l use in machines of like character, except that it is made possible,` 'with the use of a washing element, such asl show and describe, to provide a tub or container with a comparatively larger washing surface area than is ordinarily'found in lmachines, of this class. Said tub or container is supported by standards or legs 2.` The bottom wall3 ofthe tub or container, whenusing my improved dolly or agitator, maybe substantially flat, asw shown. Extending 'upwardly through the bottom is an operating shaft 4, and

said shaft on its lower end has a gear wheel 5 engaged by a rack or segment gear 6 connected to and adapted to be oscillated back and forth by a shaft 7. Connected to Said 1935. semi in. 34,994.

shaft'7 is a` crank 8 arranged to be operated I by suitable means, not shown, from any suita le source of power. The gear wheel 5 and the. rack or segment gear 6 may be encased v in any suitable housing 9. The shaft 4 extends up bearing in a stem or casing 10, open at its upper end and to the'upper end of said shaft 4 is connected a coupling memberl 11 having a depending flange 12fencirclin the up r end of the stem creasing 10 and 51e extendeed axial portion of said member 11 is preferably s nare, as at 13, to provide a convenient mode o attaching the dolly or a itator, to be described, thereto, and to detac the same therefrom. The lower end of said stem or casing 10 passes thru the bottom wall of the tub, and any suitable means is employed to seal the connectionpbetween said stem or casing andv said bottom wall to prevent leakage around said stem or casing.

The dolly omgaat-,0r is designated 14 andv has, as shown, somewhat the contour of a saucer and occupies a space substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the tub or container and' issupported to be oscillated next adjacent the bottom of the tub. The base 15 of the dolly or agitator is substantially -at and is perforated as at 16 and the peripherial portion 17 of said dolly or a tator is curved upwardly and outwar ly -while its edge, next adjacent the side wall of the tub is (provided with a. bead 18. Furthermore sai dolly or agitator-is provided ,with a plurality of radially arranged upstanding fins or ballles 19, di osed in spaced relation and preferably stopplng short of its peripherial portion and center thereof.

Axially disposed and upstanding from the base 15 of the dolly or agitator is a' tubular through and has i sleeve-like portion 20 having a shouldered throat 21 provided with a squared openin therethrough'adapted to fit over the squared extension of the coupling member 11. Such a construction provides a simple means by which the dolly or agitator may be attached of the dolly or agitator to the bottom wall of the tub. The` post or stem connection formed between the shaft 4 and the dolly or agitator is such, that the upper end thereof is sullicicntly far above the water, when agitated, to prevent leakage through the top of said stem.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated the normal water line and the relation of the batlies of thc dolly thereto and I have also shown by arrows the approximate movement of the articles in a radial direction from and toward the axis oi the tub, resulting from the agitation and centrifugal action set up by reason of the oscillation of the dolly and the upturned peripheral portion of said dolly.

In operation, the articles are placed in the tub on the dolly and as the latter is oscillated, the articles are constantly kept in a 'tation through the contact of the fins or ba es, and by reason of the agitation of the water, and then through the centrifugal action set up, the articles move ,outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly. The upturned peripherial portion ofthe dolly forcing the articles upwardly and away from the side Wall of the tub preventing the articles being drawn under or getting under the edge of the dolly and being damaged or torn. The perforations in the bottom wall of the dolly give free circulation of the water and air ing a substantially fiat perforate base member provided with an upwardly and outwardly flared peripherial portion, bales extending upwardly from said base, and an upstanding axially disposed sleeve member arranged at its upper end :for connection with a driving part.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub, a driving shaft extending through the bottom of the tub, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a dolly loosely mounted on said shaft but positively driven, said dolly having a perforate bottom substantially parallel to the bottom of the tub and terminating in an upwardly and outwardly flared portion near the sides of the tub, and upstanding baiile members on said dolly 'of materially less length than said dolly and spaced approximately midway between said driving shaft and the periphery of said dolly.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aiiixed my hand this 2nd day of June, 1925.

ALPI-Inns W. ALTORFER. 

